The development of cerebral cortical depends on the input of external sensory stimuli. Due to early auditory deprivation, congenital hearing-impaired people often have disorders in cortical function. The function of their primary auditory cortex is degraded, the functional connectivity between the primary and the secondary auditory cortex is weakened, and the secondary auditory cortex experience cross-modal reorganization. After hearing restoration, the cross-modal function reorganization remains in the secondary auditory cortex, and speech processing requires complementary higher cognitive resource. Future studies are needed on the long-term plasticity of cortex, the mechanism of speech processing under complex auditory environment, and the uniqueness of Chinese language processing after hearing reconstruction.

Sharma A., Dorman M. F., & Kral A . ( 2005). The influence of a sensitive period on central auditory development in children with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants.Hearing Research, 203( 1-2), 134-143.

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Sharma A., Dorman M. F., & Spahr A. J . ( 2002). A sensitive period for the development of the central auditory system in children with cochlear implants: Implications for age of implantation.Ear and Hearing, 23( 6), 532-539.